HOW pathetic of politicians to criticise our police forces on their handling of the recent riots. The police are in a no-win situation, whatever they do, if they take the soft approach they are slated by politicians and the media, if they go in heavy handedly and hurt one of these poor yobs they are then accused of being too aggressive and often find themselves up in court with the do-gooders, politicians, and media demanding that they are kicked out of the force. What a sad society we live in.

I lay the blame of today’s generation of drug dealing, uncaring, aggressive, work-shy yobs, at the feet of a succession of pathetic, incompetent governments.

When will they ever learn that the only way to treat these families of sewer rats, is to build prisons fit only for rats to live in and fed only on the bare essentials.

Apart from saving millions of pounds on their upkeep, it would create a feelgood factor in our neighbourhoods and the knowledge that all the well-behaved generation of children can play out and socialise without being victims of gang disputes.

When will we find a government with the commitment to bring peace and harmony to our neighbourhoods once and for all and rid them of the sewer rats who live amongst us all

Joe (a very concerned grandfather of three), West Derby

Eviction shame

I'VE BEEN really upset to see in the news the story of those poor travellers being evicted from their homes.

They are human beings. You wouldn't treat an animal like that.

What kind of mentality do people have to treat people in such a way.

It's the children who will be hurt the most by this: they need a stable family home.

It's a crying shame that it's being allowed to happen.

Name and address supplied

Sad Britain

IN spite of the riots in our cities, I don’t think it will lead to much change in our society. The politicians will continue to pursue their own agendas.

The chattering classes will continue to pontificate.

Fat cats – bereft of any social conscience or moral compass – will resume lining their own pockets.

Meanwhile, ordinary families, the low-paid and many pensioners, will suffer thanks to the greed of politicians and bankers.

What a sad, sad place Britain has become.

It is certainly no country for old men!

WT Green, Disgusted, Lydiate

High price

ON a recent visit to a Chinese buffet restaurant with my nine-year-old daughter and her nine-year-old friend my daughter was charged adult price.

When we asked why, she was forced to stand next to a scribbled line on a piece of paper by the till in front of all the customers. As she was taller than the line she was classed as an adult!

This really embarrassed her but is this legal? If it was a small adult would they be charged the child’s price?

The manager made no comment when pressed on the issue, except to say he was only following orders. We have all heard that before

S Speakman, Huyton

Beatles forever

THE anonymous author of the anti-Beatles contribution to your columns is very much in a minority, I would have thought (ECHO Letter, August 27).

I am surprised your correspondent has not realised that the continued popularity of the Fab Four says a lot about the largely inferior quality of groups – with certain exceptions – emerging in subsequent decades.

I do not agree that your newspaper exhibits excessive enthusiasm for the Beatles. Most of us are proud of the special place they have and hold in the hearts of fans not only from their home city, but also the rest of the country – and the world.

Derek Jeffery, Heswall

Show compassion

Re: Liza Williams story (August 27)

In Fazakerley Hospital’s pre-season pantomime, they have been dopey, grumpy, sleepy and less than and this ECHO Reader isn’t bashful to say that I’m not happy over 62 year old grandad patient Francis Marsden, clearly disabled, being given a parking ticket, for the dastardly deed of parking in a disabled bay.

These officials clearly need to see a doc for a reality check over their discrimination towards this disabled man because not even Merlin the Magician would be able to make any sense of this nonsense. I urge this hospital to show some compassion and waive the fine, eat humble pie and apologise.

Evan Williams (Registered Disabled, 79), Preston

Torture of Prisoners

I WAS sickened by the pictures and report of the torture of prisoners of war. How could any human being treat another with such utter brutality and cruelty?

I did my National Service when 18 for two years, learning how to fight and aim to kill the enemy. I also learnt to play hockey, tennis, football, table-tennis, to drive a tank, become a marksman with the rifle. I also took further education.

I left school at 14 – worked at 15. You were expected to get a job right away. Further education like university for working class kids was out of reach. I learnt a great deal and gained a great deal of skill, knowledge and respect for my working class colleagues and my family.

Young people join the Armed Forces because of publicity and the benefits from military life - and don’t seem to realise that Armed Forces do often have to fight the enemy and to kill and be killed. It’s wrong not to stress when you enlist - it’s often a violent killing decision. Some obviously have been de-humanised and carry out cruelty, brutal duties on command.